Shoping Guide: Mic and Recording Unit for outdoor

[markymarc]

Hi everyone,
I am pretty new & fresh in this community. So "Hi" to everyone. I registered myself here cause I need some advice concerning some items I want to buy. Here is what I want to do with the equipment:
I need a new mic and a recording unit (digital if possible) because I want to record outdoor signals like cars passing by, different type of engines, machines, etc. I -of course- don't want to spent a lot of money (in words: 500-1000 dollars - if possible less then that) but I would still love to enjoy good quality of the sound. I don't want mono signals and I need a digital quality about 44 to 48 khz. The sound I want to capture should be as realistic as possible. You guys probably have 1000 ideas what to get and what not.
I saw this one guy from the Skywalker Ranch running around with a Dat Recorder and an old looking mic. I figured that this stuff probably cost a couple of thousands. I am "Only" using it for Home Recording, so I don't need the high end stuff, but still it should sound great.
Thanks to everyone who can help me in this case!

Yours Marc

 

[DJL]

Hi everyone,
I am pretty new & fresh in this community. So "Hi" to everyone. I registered myself here cause I need some advice concerning some items I want to buy. Here is what I want to do with the equipment:
I need a new mic and a recording unit (digital if possible) because I want to record outdoor signals like cars passing by, different type of engines, machines, etc. I -of course- don't want to spent a lot of money (in words: 500-1000 dollars - if possible less then that) but I would still love to enjoy good quality of the sound. I don't want mono signals and I need a digital quality about 44 to 48 khz. The sound I want to capture should be as realistic as possible. You guys probably have 1000 ideas what to get and what not.
I saw this one guy from the Skywalker Ranch running around with a Dat Recorder and an old looking mic. I figured that this stuff probably cost a couple of thousands. I am "Only" using it for Home Recording, so I don't need the high end stuff, but still it should sound great.
Thanks to everyone who can help me in this case!

Yours Marc

You could get a stand alone CD recorder, a DAT recorder, cassette recorder, mini disk recorder, etc... what I'd do if I was you is... go take a look at some places like http://www.8thstreet.com http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030821124740067119179198638143/g=home/content/cb/index and try to find something you like in your price range... and after you find what recorder your going to get... come on back here and ask which mic(s) everyone recommends. Good luck, have fun, and I wish you the best.

Don

 

[Innovations]

What has been traditionally used for this are Marrantz and Sony portable recorders, first cassette, then DAT, and now memory card.

But in my mind a just as good but less expensive solution is the Fostex MR8. $299 from various online sources.

If you wanted to do point sounds of specific items and didn't want to hear so much of the rest of the environment...like recording a seal barking or a lion roaring or a bird chirping. Then you will need a shotgun microphone. That is most likely the strange looking microphone you saw the guy from skywalker using. Such sounds will not be stereo though, nor do they particularly need to be. A bird is not big enough to need a stereo image.

If you want stereo ambient environment sounds, like ocean roaring or a train traveling by on the tracks or a rippling brook, then you will want a pair of cardoid pattern mics on a mic bar arranged in an XY or ORTF pair (which come to think of it may have looked rather strange too). Since the Fostex does not have phantom power and you are using these in rough outdoor conditions you need a dynamic mic rather than a condenser. On a budget I think a pair of SM57's (legendary durability) would do fine (with some windscreens in case a breeze kicks up).

Oh, and a hint I got from a BBC site. Bring a pair of unlubricated condoms. If you get to your field location and it starts raining you can pop off the windscreen put the condom over the mic, put the windscreen back on, and the mic is protected from the rain.

 

[bean....]

This could be a good starting point.

One of these Sony MiniDisc Recorders

And a small Stereo Mic

I have had fun with this kind of setup for field recording. You aren't gonna want to record Yo Yo Ma with this, but for engines and machines and co., you can get some pretty good results. You can transfer the files (in stereo) into your computer and edit them, and its really portable.

 

[DJL]

This could be a good starting point.

One of these Sony MiniDisc Recorders

And a small Stereo Mic

I have had fun with this kind of setup for field recording. You aren't gonna want to record Yo Yo Ma with this, but for engines and machines and co., you can get some pretty good results. You can transfer the files (in stereo) into your computer and edit them, and its really portable.

What I like about the little Sony MD recorder is... it fits in my shirt pocket, sounds pretty good, and runs for a long time on just 2 AA's... get a better mic tho.

EDIT: Added... PS, I've even dropped it and it still works... lol.

 

[Rev E]

This could be a good starting point.

One of these Sony MiniDisc Recorders

And a small Stereo Mic

I did the 'Sony-minidisc' portable mic' thing a while back. If all you're recording is stuff to put in your nonportable rig, this option should work fine and sound very decent. Minidisc has data compression (not good), but the technology, particularly Sony's MD technology sounds good. Should be a good option for you.

 

[markymarc]

Thanks guys for the help so far.
I think I will get two SM-58s, cause I was planning on buying them anyways. The environmental sounds are more important right now. But again, if I want some sound details on machine, I think I will be able to use the 58s, too, if I get close enough. So right now I am spending about 200 dollars for the mics.
For the recording device I might use my laptop. It isn't the best solution especially out in the wilderness. And I still have to spend 150 bucks on a new battery. So that makes it 350 so far. I am not satisfied with the MD idea, cause the files are compressed. Any other device is too expensive, especially DAT systems. I was wondering if there isn't a memory stick that records wav files in good quality. Anybody heard of stuff like that?
Thanks again for the quick and detailed help. I already love this community!

Marc

 

[notbradsohner]

fostex mr-8 is the way to go. It gives uncompressed wav files, and is usb transferrable. Two inputs, 8 tracks, sounds like all you need.

PM me or email me at notbradsohner AT yahoo.com ............ive got one for sale

EDIT: My recommendation has nothing to do with the fact that I am selling one. It really is a good machine for around $250.

 

[DJL]

fostex mr-8 is the way to go. It gives uncompressed wav files, and is usb transferrable. Two inputs, 8 tracks, sounds like all you need.

PM me or email me at notbradsohner AT yahoo.com ............ive got one for sale

EDIT: My recommendation has nothing to do with the fact that I am selling one. It really is a good machine for around $250.

Just a thought... markymarc and or others might like to know why your selling it.

 

[markymarc]

Thanks for the offer. I am thinking about it. The problem with the Fostex mr-8 is that it only comes with a 128 MB Flash Card which is about 12 mins of recording. Thats pretty tight for outdoor activities, I think. Sure you can grab bigger Flash Cards but they are pretty expensive. Is there any other solution out there? What do you guys think about the laptop solution?

Marc

 

[radiorickm]

little secret

hey markymark.

the MR-8 is i really neat little machine. there is a battery powered behringer mixer out there, and the two of them would make a great field recording unit.

a little secret about the mr-8. the part of the program that is cpu labor intensive is when you start bouncing tracks and combining a lot of stuff togetner.

to record a stereo track like you want to do, you can use pretty much ANY card. i went to wal-mart and grabbed a fuji 256 and it works absolutely fine (recording all 8 tracks even, just no bouncing). i would recommend the highest speed one there, but they will work for regular stereo recording

good luck in your recording endeavour.

 

[markymarc]

Sounds great. I am thinking about it. How much are those Flash Cards? And how does the Fostex work? I wonder if it has a good headphone amp, cause you want to hear what the mics are doing. are there any effects in the system? how many hours do the batteries work?
just wondering...


marc

 

[radiorickm]

mr-8

Well, the flash cards really range in price. Right now, www.musiciansfriend.com has 512 card on sale for $119.00. They also sell the "certified" 256 card there. My 256 card at wal-mart was like $69.00 or something.

I'd just go to e-bay and type in compact flash and see what you find there.

if you are going to use the 58's like you mentioned, you wouldnt necessarily need a mixer, but it will give you some added benefits like eq and aux sends.

The MR-8 does have effects built in. NOW, they certainly ain't the greatest in the world, but the are usable. I'm not sure which you would want to use, noting your desired type of recording, maybe the mastering effects, but they are there.

As for the headphone amp. It does have a headphone amp. This is however, one of the know glitches with the MR-8. Once in a while the head phone amp will get static in it. It doesn't go to the recording, just the head phone amp. You can fix it by either swithching plugs (it has to phone outs) or simply switching the unit off and on again.

even knowing this about the unit, i would still highly recommend it. I have had mine for about a year now, with no problems.

Oh, i haven't really used mine on batter power for a very long time, but i do want to record a train passing for a project. soon as the weather dries out ( i live in new mexico...it wont take long) i might try it and see how it works.